Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Symphonic black metal1994

Second genre

Symphonic metal1996

Head to headSymphonic black metal vs Symphonic metal
Symphonic black metal: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 8. Symphonic metal: heaviness 6, melody 10, speed 6.Heaviness8 / 6Melody7 / 10Speed8 / 6
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Symphonic metal is clean-sung, major-key and grand. This keeps the shriek, the blast beat and the menace.

Symphonic metal is sung cleanly where symphonic black metal is growled or screamed, and much slower: 110 to 160 bpm against 160 to 240. To hear the difference, play Emperor next to Nightwish. They share a root in heavy metal, and symphonic black metal came first, by two years.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Symphonic black metal8
Symphonic metal6
−2
Speed
Symphonic black metal8
Symphonic metal6
−2
Melody
Symphonic black metal7
Symphonic metal10
+3

Symphonic black metal

1994 · Norway

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Black metal › Symphonic black metal

In short

Keyboards and choirs over black metal structures. Grand, theatrical and by far the most saleable of the subgenres.

How it sounds

  • Keyboards and choirs treated as a lead instrument rather than as background.
  • Broad orchestration, occasionally with a real orchestra, and large studio production.
  • Epic structures with recurring themes and film-score dynamics.

Key acts

  • Emperor
  • Dimmu Borgir
  • Cradle of Filth

Start here

The pickEmperor - In the Nightside Eclipse. Recorded by teenagers, and it sounds monumental.

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Symphonic metal

1996 · Finland / Netherlands

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Symphonic metal

In short

Full orchestra and choir treated as equal instruments, usually with an operatic female lead. Metal's most visible face in the European mainstream.

How it sounds

  • Orchestra and choir as a permanent section, often recorded live rather than sampled.
  • Classically trained or lyrical female vocals, sometimes alternating with growls.
  • Broad, multi-layered production with film-score dynamics.

Key acts

  • Nightwish
  • Within Temptation
  • Epica
  • Therion

Start here

The pickTherion - Theli. The moment the choir becomes the lead instrument.

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